Rain-water filter and automatic cut-off.



J. A. PETER.

RAIN WATER FILTER AND AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF.

APPucATmN man om. 11. |916.

@@w Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

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WITHIN INVENTOR WITNESSES iinrrnn srarns rarrnnr ernten Jenn armi-in, or rosToaIA, oHIo.

nAINfvvATnn rrLTnR Ann AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF.

Specoationof Letters Patent.

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Application filed October 17',` 1916. Serial No. 126,166.

i y the rain Water is to be collected and cistern into which the rain water `is to be deposited, whereby Vthe rst collected portion of the rain water is allowed to waste, carrying with it accumulations of dust and dirt which may occur ,on the roof, and then the clean rain water is directed into the cistern, while at the same time the rain water is cleansed by filtration. I Y

This is accomplished by a structure provided with an overbalanced water-diverting roclable member normallypositioned to direct the water first reaching it yaway from the cistern and so proportioned and adj-usted that by the time the roof has been washed by the rain water the rockable member is turned on its axis to an extent todivert the rain water toward the cistern. 'The device furthermore includes a receptacle for filtering "material, such as charcoal or the like,

through which the rain water is directed to the cistern, thus purifying the rain water. Provision is made whereby the device may be rendered automatic in action, or may be fined in position keither to direct all the Water toward a waste outlet or all the water into the cistern, and in the latter case the ltering material may or may not be employed;

Since such 4a structure is exposed to weather conditions there is liability of freezing in winter time, wherefore the container for charcoal `or `other ltering material is made tapering toward the outlet end, thus providing for lexpansion in case of freezing, whereby iniury to 1or distortion of the de vice by freezing is avoided.

The invention will be 'best understood from a consideration' of "the following 1detailed description, taken in connection vwith the accompanying drawings fornaing'part of this specification, with the further understanding fthat while theY drawings show a p "acticabl form fof the invention, the latter is not confined to any strictconformity with the :showing `or the drawings but maybe `changed and modified so Along as suchy changes and modiiications come within the scope of theappended claims.

In the drawings z- Figure l is a vertical section about midway of the width of the device and lengthwise of the cut-oif means showing the latter in `the normal position, and in the dotted lines in the position for diverting rain water to theV cistern. Y

Fig. 2 is a front elevation yof the device shown in Fig. l, some parts being broken away and in section to disclose more distant parts.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device vwith the cover removed.

Fig. l is a detail section on the line 4-4l of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 ,is a detail front elevation of a portion ,of the device showing latch means in position to hold the structure fiXedly to divert the water away from the cistern.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the latch means in position to fixedly yhold the device so as to at allftimes divert the water into the cistern.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a casing l which in operative position is upright. The lower portion 2 of the casing tapers toward a discharge end 3 which may be shaped to receive .a pipe l for `conducting water to the cistern. 'l` he top portion of the casing is shown as of substantially rectangular cross-section, although such par ticularishape is not obligatory. This rectangular lportion incloses a chamber 5 containing workingY devices for causing diver sion of the water to the 'waste or to the cistern, as tfhe case maybe.

About the top of the'casing is an outstanding flange 6 and adapted to slide on to the casing and to be held thereto `by the Harige are two cover members 7, S, coactively related to completely cover the top of the casi-ng, except that in the cover member 7 there is a passage containing a pipe nipple 9 capable of ready removal from the cover 7 and having at vwhat constitutes its Lupper end an outstanding supporting flange l0. The pipe 9 is of a size to receive a rain spout 1l.

Both members 7 and 8 of the cover are removable oppositely from the body of thev casing, the cover member `8 having a lip l2 capable of underriding a corresponding end of the cover member '7, so that Aeven `if the cover frnember 8 'be moved away from the cover member 7 the two members will still oin so long as the separating movement is short. Such movement serves a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Near the bottom, or near the end of the tapering portion 2 of the casing thereV is lodged a screen 13 which may be and preferably is of wire mesh, although, of course,

-within the chamber 5.

Mounted on a pivot rod 18'or otherwise pivotally supported within thechamber 5 is a rockable deiiector or guide trough 19 having at one end a weight 20, or the guide trough is otherwise overbalanced'or biased to cause it to normallytend toward the shelf 17 and be thereby supported in an inclined position with the end resting on the shelf 17 lowermost. The other end of the rockable trough 19 is in the form of a relatively shallow extension 21, with side webs 21a from which rise end and side walls formed of screens 22 so disposed as to be in underriding relation to the pipe 9. The strips 21a reach from the rear end of the extension 21 to a point a short distance in front of the pivot 18. The side walls of the rockable trough 19 expand from the weighted end toward lthe end provided with the screen 22, and

vthe bottom portion of the extension 21 adjacent to the end remote from the heavy Yend of the troughy has perforations 23' through it emptying into a pocket 24 carried by the trough 19 below the bottom thereof, and preferably in inclined relation thereto, so as to be more or less pendently` -positioned with respect to the trough. The pocket 24 is closed except that it is provided near the lower end with a leak passage 25 of less capacity than the combined capacity of the perforations 23. The arrangement isV such that when water enters the trough 19 through the pipe 9, it is normally directed from the trough to the waste spout 16, so that fora short time after the beginning of a rainfall, the water will go to waste, thus carrying with it any accumulations of dirt or the like which may have occurred `on the roof connectedv with the pipe 11.

Some of the water, however', flows through the perforations 23 and accumulates in the pocket 24 in which there is always a slight leakage through the passage 25, but not sufficient yto'contaminate water in the cistern, since all water entering the cistern must first vcistern. The weighted end ofthe trough always lower than the top of the screen 22, so that even when tilted, leaves or the like 'cannot 5 escape from the trough except through the spout 16. i Allwater accumulating from heavy dews and the rst flush lfrom rains reach that section of the trough represented'by the extension 21 with its side strips 21a .and such water, usually contaminated by sootand dust, is directedl to the spout 16 Yand is prevented from reaching the cistern. In any event the water flowing to they cistern is Vnotv only preserved from contamination but 'is purified by being directed through' the charcoal or other material 15. `When a rain ceases, the water accumulated in the pocket 24 ultimately drains away until the counter-weight 2O overbalances the trough 19 and the latter isautomatically returned to its first position.

.When waterfirst enters the trough 19 at the beginning yof a rain there may be some accumulations of dirt or the like on the screens 22 left there from water previously directed throughthe screens.l The rst flow of water striking the inner walls of the screens 22 will wash such accumulations therefrom, and these accumulations are caught by the webs or Vstrips 21a and directed toward the waste spout, so that such accumulations cannot reach the perforations 23 to possibly pass through or clog them.

Connected to they -overbalanced or normally lower end of the trough 19 is a rod 26, thel connection between the rod and trough being a loose one. The rod 26 is continued through a slot 27 in what constitutes the front wall of the casing, and outside of the casing is formed into a crank extension 28 terminating in an angle extremity 29. rThe crank extension 28 may be turned on an axis in the slot 27 ,thereby elevatingA or lowering the weighted end ofV the trough 19. In one position the crank 28 is movable under a tongue 30 fast to the outer wall of the casing 1, and in another position' the angle extremity 29, which constitutes a convenient handehold, may be moved under an edge portion 31 of the cover member A8, this edge portion being so bent as to otherwise receive the flange 6. The cover member 7 is similarly bent, as indicated at 32, to receive the flange 6. When itis desirable that the Structure be set to direct all the,` collected' rainwater away from thecistern, ythe angle portion 2,9 of the crank 28 is engaged under the, bent portion 3.1 of theicoiver 8, which latterfmay be moved suh'iciently fory the purpose, thus locking the trough 19 iixedly in an inclined position, Wherebythe Water is atall times directed through the spout 1G. When it is desirable that all the Water should be directed from the roof into, the cistern," then the yWeighted end' of 4the trough 19: is elevated and there locked by means ,of the crank 28, which isfthen engaged under the tongue 30, which can be a spring tongue preventing accidental escape of the crank 2S.

lVlien the device is to operate automati- `f cally, the crank is. allowed to remain loose. i f f rilhe taper torm of the portion of the casing containing-the charcoal or other filtering material prevents harmful eiiects from freezing, because the material. therein if it should be Wet and then frozen has ample opportunity for expansion without bringing undue strain rupon the Walls of the casing.

The pipe 9i is purposely Afree from fastening to the cover member 7J, so that in the event that it is either necessary or desirable to have access to the interior of the casing the kpipe ll may be removed and following it the pipe 9, whereupon the cover member 7 is free to be slid from the casing, thus covering the chamber 5 and access to parts below the chamber 5 is then possible.

`@Sometimes it is desirable to take out the rockable detiector which may be done by first sliding the cover members 7, 8, back out oi'v the Way. To permitthe bodily removal of the roclrable deflector the shaft 18 is seated in forked or open bearings; 18a on the sides of the casingv Within the chamber 5.`

What is claimed is Y l. ln an automatic rain Water delector or cut-cti?, a casing with an inlet through the top, an outlet through the bottom for connection to a cistern, and a discharge or i Waste spout in the upper portion of the casing projecting through one side Wall thereof, and a roclrable trough in the casing having a normal bias to tip into operative relation to the discharge or Waste spout through the side of the casing with the other end of the trough elevated and located beneath the inlet to receive Water therefrom, said trough having meanson the initially higher end for accumulating Water in opposition to the normal bias of the trough and thereby rock the trough to elevate the normally biased end and lovver the initially higher end and direct Water therei from to the outlet at the lower end of the a casing, said trough having the end portion beneath the inlet to the casing provided with screen means at the sides and end,

2. ln an automaticrain Water cut-oav casingv having an inlet and an outlet for Water, and a roiclrablemember in the path of Water through the casing to divert the Water in one direction, said rockable member being overbalanced at one end to impart a normal biasy to hold the roclrable member in an inclined position and at the other end having side and end screen vvalls and having a bottom extension With perforations therethrough and a pocket situated below the perforated portion and communicating theieivitlfi through the perforations, said pocket having a leak passage of smaller area than the effective area of the perforations. l

In an automatic rain Water cut-od, a casing having an inlet and an outlet for Water, and a roclrable member in the path of Water through the casing to `divert the water 1in one direction, said rockable member being overbalanced at one end toimpart' a normal bias to hold the roclrable member in an inclined position and at the other end having side and end screen Walls and having a bottom extension with perforations therethrough and a pocket situated below the perforated portion and communieating therewith through the pertorations, said pocket having a lealr passage of smaller area than theefective area of the perforations, said pocket being in angular or inclined relation to the length of the roclrable member.

de., ln an automatic rain Water cut-ott, a rockable detiector having an intermediate axis of rocking and 'movable about said axis to elevate either end above a horizontal pla-ne or carry it'below said plane, said rockable deflector having one end portion provided With side and end screens and with the other end normally biased to move below the said plane, means in operative relation to the normally biased end to convey Water therefrom, and means at the screened end of the deflector for accumulating Water directed into the detlector to overbalance the normally biased end of the latter.

5. In an automatic rain Water deflector or out-oii,v a easing havin-g ra tapering lovver portion terminating in an outlet for connection to a cistern, said casing being provided ivith a Waste spout through one side Wall near the top and an inlet through the top near the other side of the casing from the Waste spout, screening means at the top and bottom portion of the taper part of the casing for containing i'iltering material, and a pivoted trough in the upper part of the casing over the screening means above the filtering part of the casing, said trough being biased at one end to normally rest upon the Waste spout and at the other end projecting beneath the inlet to the casing and there having side and end screens, and a pocket communicatingA with the trough for receiving water therefrom and of a size to accu.- mulate water to .an amount to overbalance the biasing means at the VotherendV of the trough. Y

6. In an automatic rain water cut-olf, a casing, a normally biased rockable trough therein, a waste spout extending through one side oi the casing .near its upper end in the path of the corresponding end of the trough and the latter having the said end biasedi to move into engagement with the spout f or support thereby, the casing having an inlet on a side of thefaxis of rocking of the trough remote from the waste spout, and the trough having water accumulating means and a screened discharge end located beneath the'inlet to the casing, a rod extending through the casing and pivotally connectedV to the discharge end of the trough, andk means exterior to the easing for engaging and holding the outer end of the rod in position to hold lthe trough at either limit of its rocking movement.

7. In an automatic rain water filter and cut-olf, a casing tapering downwardly and y there provided with a discharge opening, an

inletentering the top of the casing, a waste outlet for the casing extending through one side of the latter near the top of the casing, screens inthe taper portion of the casing and delining a chamber for containing iltering material, and a rockable trough mounted in the upper part of the casing and overriding throughout its length the chamber for containing filtering material, said trough being normally lbiased, toward the waste spout and at the other end underriding the inlet to the casing and there having side and end screens, and ar waterreceiving pocket with a leak passage discharging toward the chamber for containing filtering material.

8. In a rain water cut-off, a easing, a two# part slidable cover therefor, a removable pipein one section of the cover adapted to receive a rain conducting pipe, an automatic deflector Within the casing below' the cover,

deflector withinthe casing below the cover, Y

and controllingmeans vfor the deflector extending to the exterior of the casing and adapted to be engagedby one member of the cover for locking the deflector at one limit of its movement, said casing also having a .catch member exterior thereto for engaging the holding means at the other limit of movement of the deflector.

10. In an automatic rain water cut-off, a rockable delector` biased to anA inclined positionA for directing water in one direction, with the other end of the'deilector provided with a water receiving member, and said last-namedY end of the deiector being provided with Aa strainer and having` passages opening into the water receiving member, and also being provided with side webs to direct small streams of water away from the water receiving member.

g 1l. In an automatic rain water cut-off, a rockable delector biased in one direction to an inclined position and having a water g JOHN A. PETER.

Witnesses:

JNO. MYERS, CrrARLEs MYERS.

' Uopes'of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each,` by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C. 

